Archive for September, 2010

Hagia Sophia (from the Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία, “Holy Wisdom”; Latin: Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia; Turkish: Aya Sofya) is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. From the date of its dedication in 360 until 1453, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Patriarch of Constantinople of the Western Crusader established Latin Empire. The building was a mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1934, when it was secularized. It was opened as a museum on 1 February 1935.

The Church was dedicated to the Logos, the second person of the Holy Trinity, its dedication feast taking place on December 25, the anniversary of the incarnation of the Logos in Christ. Although it is sometimes referred to as Sancta Sophia (as though it were named after Saint Sophia), sophia is the phonetic spelling in Latin of the Greek word for wisdom – the full name in Greek being Ναός τῆς Ἁγίας τοῦ Θεοῦ Σοφίας, “Church of the Holy Wisdom of God”.

Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have “changed the history of architecture.” It was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years, until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520. The current building was originally constructed as a church between 532 and 537 on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian and was the third Church of the Holy Wisdom to occupy the site, the previous two having both been destroyed by rioters. It was designed by Isidore of Miletus, a physicist, and Anthemius of Tralles, a mathematician.

The church contained a large collection of holy relics and featured, among other things, a 49 foot (15 m) silver iconostasis. It was the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople and the religious focal point of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly one thousand years. It is the church in which Cardinal Humbert in 1054 excommunicated Michael I Cerularius – which is commonly considered the start of the Great Schism.

In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks under Sultan Mehmed II, who subsequently ordered the building converted into a mosquThe bells, altar, iconostasis, and sacrificial vessels were removed and many of the mosaics were plastered over. Islamic features — such as the mihrab, minbar, and four minarets — were added while in the possession of the Ottomans. It remained a mosque until 1935, when it was converted into a museum by the Republic of Turkey.

For almost 500 years the principal mosque of Istanbul, Hagia Sophia served as a model for many other Ottoman mosques, such as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque of Istanbul), the Şehzade Mosque, the Süleymaniye Mosque, the Rüstem Pasha Mosque and the Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque.

Telegraph.co.ukMalaysian fish seller to hang for killing 2 British studentsMiamiHerald.comA Malaysian court on Tuesday sentenced a fish seller to death for killing two British medical students last year on Borneo island. Prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad said the high court found Zulkipli Abdullah, 23, guilty of stabbing to death Aidan Brunger ...Malaysian f […]

ReutersOil drops to $55 as Iran nuclear talks intensifyReutersLONDON (Reuters) - Brent crude oil dropped towards $55 a barrel on Tuesday as Iran and six world powers entered a final day of talks over a nuclear deal that could see the energy-rich country increase oil exports to world markets. With a self-imposed ...Officials: Iran nuke talks to continue in ne […]

BBC NewsElection 2015: Plaid call to end cuts and 'rebalance' economyBBC NewsPlaid Cymru will use its influence in a hung parliament to "bring austerity to an end" and rebuild the Welsh economy, party leader Leanne Wood has said. The party launched its general election manifesto on Tuesday, and has already announced plans to ...David Came […]

Irish TimesIreland not offering refuge to 'fair share' of Syrian refugees, says NGOIrish TimesThe Irish State must open its doors to more than 700 Syrians in order to resettle a “fair share” of the nearly four million refugees seeking asylum, says Oxfam. Oxfam has released an analysis of Syrian humanitarian aid commitments to coincide with the thir […]

AsiaOneAway in Cambridge, a bridge spans the distance to SingaporeAsiaOneIn Singapore it rained but here, half a world away, the sun shines in fits and starts in the midst of a spring shower. The only constant is the wind, so strong it turns umbrellas inside-out and makes the pub signs swing. I can't decide what I want to do either.Singapore teen charge […]

Voice of AmericaVote Count Continues in Nigerian ElectionVoice of AmericaVote counting has begun again in Nigeria, where voters await the results of Saturday's presidential election pitting incumbent Goodluck Jonathan against challenger Muhammadu Buhari. Half the country's 36 states were counted by late Monday, with Buhari ...Mohammedu Buhari on ve […]

CNNWashiqur Rahman: Another secular blogger hacked to death in BangladeshCNN(CNN) When American writer Avijit Roy was hacked to death on a Dhaka, Bangladesh, street in full view of horrified onlookers, blogger Washiqur Rahman doubled down. Fundamentalists were choking free thought in his secular nation, he wrote. But they ...Bangladesh files cases against fo […]

LivemintUPDATE 1-Japan and US look to extend naval missions after law changeReuters(Adds China foreign ministry, paras 7,8). By Tim Kelly. TOKYO, March 31 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to allow Tokyo to come to the aid of an ally under attack will pave the way for closer cooperation between U.S. and Japanese ...Japan and US look […]

The Globe and MailLeaders' personal info revealed in Australian G20 summit privacy breach: reportThe Globe and MailA published report says personal details of world leaders attending last November's G20 summit in Australia were accidentally disclosed to the organizers of an Asian Cup soccer tournament. The Guardian says an Australian Immigration De […]

Leadership NewspapersBauchi Residents Defy Curfew Order By Gov YugudaLeadership NewspapersResidents of Bauchi have defied the indefinite 24-hour curfew imposed on the capital town by the state governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda as they move about freely, daring anyone to stop them. It was observed within the metropolis that people were going about ...and more » […]